Roster Finalized for 2012 Spring Semester of U.S. Under-17 Residency Program

31 Players Selected to Train Full-Time in Bradenton, Fla.; Three Players Born in 1997 Join Residency, with 28 Born in 1996

U-17 MNTJan 24, 2012

CHICAGO (Jan. 24, 2012) – The roster for the U-17 Residency Program was finalized for the 2012 Spring Semester, with 31 players selected to train full-time in Bradenton, Fla. The players are in the second semester of the two-year cycle in preparation for the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and are under the guidance of recently named head coach Richie Williams.

Nine players join the roster in the Spring of 2012, including three players born in 1997: Mukwelle Akale, Cameron Lindley and Tommy Redding. The remaining 28 players were born in 1996, and 22 of them return after the 2011 Fall Semester roster.

The new crop of athletes includes five players who were chosen to train with the U.S. U-17 MNT in December after their participation on Academy Select teams at the 2011 Nike International Friendlies. Several players also have recent U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team experience, with Akale, Lindley and Redding participating in camps under U-15 BNT head coach Tony Lepore in October and December 2011.

There are 26 players representing 19 Development Academy clubs, with New York Red Bulls sending six players and Chivas USA and Concorde Fire providing two each. NC Alliance is the only other club to send two players.

The U.S. players live on campus at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., and train in the morning under the guidance of Williams and his coaching staff. In the afternoon, the players attend classes at St. Stephens Episcopal School.

While in the full-time residency program, the U.S. team not only trains daily, but also has access to the IMG Academies facilities. The team regularly uses the state-of-the-art strength-training facilities, as well as brand new dormitories and meal rooms.

Beginning in 1999, the Residency Program has given players an opportunity to grow and move up the ladder in the world of soccer and become professionals in Major League Soccer, some of the biggest clubs in Europe and even make an impact on the full U.S. Men’s National Team. The program in Bradenton provides players with an environment where they can prosper as individual players and come together as a team ahead of regional and world competition.

Since its inception, more than 300 players have been through the full-time Residency Program, and more than 100 of those players have moved on to Major League Soccer or the professional leagues in Europe. Twenty-four players have also registered at least one cap with the full MNT: Freddy Adu, Gale Agbossoumonde, Juan Agudelo, Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman, Michael Bradley, Bobby Convey, Landon Donovan, Eddie Gaven, Omar Gonzalez, Eddie Johnson, Eric Lichaj, Justin Mapp, Chad Marshall, Dax McCarty, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce, Santino Quaranta, Robbie Rogers, Brek Shea, Jonathan Spector, Danny Szetela and Anthony Wallace.